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SERMON, 



BELIVZHED IS 



BOSTON. 



SEPTEMBER 18, 1814, 



PUBLISHED 



AT THE REQUEST OF THE HEARERS, 



-<=^£35^c- 



BY WILLIAM ELLERY CHANNING, 

Minister of the Church in Federal-Street* 



BOSTON : 

PUBLISHED BY HENRY CHANNING, 

No. 5, Marlborough-Street. 



J. T. BUCKINGHAM, PRINTER. 
1814. 



£&■■■*■ ***•"*•«, 






In the present state of our country, the author has not felt 
himself at liberty to reject the urgency of those, who have re- 
quested this discourse for the press. It is always with great re- 
luctance that he addresses the publick on political subjects. But 
the moment has come, when private feelings are to be discarded. 
A good citizen owes himself to his country, and he will withhold 
no effort, however feeble, which may purify and elevate publick 
sentiment, or in any manner contribute to publick safety. 



SERMON. 



JEREMIAH vi. 8. 

Be thou instructed, Jerusalem, lest my soul depart 
from thee ; lest I make thee desolate. 

These words were addressed by God to his ancient 
people Israel, at a period of great national calamity, when 
destructive armies were ready to overwhelm Jerusalem, 
and the whole kingdom was threatened with slaughter 
and desolation. At this solemn moment God sent his 
prophets to warn the people of their danger, to call them 
to reflection and repentance, and to assure them that 
amendment would secure his favour. I have chosen these 
words as applicable to our present calamitous situation. 
" Be thou instructed," is the language God address- 
es to this people, " lest I make thee desolate." 

At such a moment as this, when every mind is fixing 
a fearful attention on the state of the country, it is im- 
possible that a religious instructer should escape parti- 
cipation in the common feeling. His sacred calling- 
does not require him to separate himself from the com- 



munity, to forget that he is a citizen, to put off the feel- 
ings of a man. The religion which he teaches incul- 
cates publick spirit, and a strong and tender concern for 
all by whom he is surrounded. He would be unworthy 
his sacred function, were he not to love his country, to 
sympathize with its prosperous and adverse fortunes, 
and to weep over its falling glory. The religion, which 
it is his duty to dispense, regards men in all their rela- 
tions, and affords instructions and motives adapted to 
every condition whether of individuals or communities. 
You will not then consider me as leaving the province 
of a religious teacher, if I speak to you of the dangers, 
and claims of our country, if I address you as citizens, 
and attempt to point out your duties at the present sol- 
emn period. 

The present is indeed a solemn period. The sad 
reverse which this country exhibits astonishes as well 
as depresses us. But a few years ago, we stood on 
the eminence of prosperity. Amidst the storms which 
desolated nations, we were at peace, and the very 
storms seemed freighted • ith blessings for our tranquil 
shores. Separated by an ocean from Europe* we hoped 
to escape the whirlpool of her conflibts. Who could 
have anticipated the change which a few years have 
made ? — And is it indeed true, that from this height we 
have sunk so low, that our commerce is swept from the 
ocean, that industry Iras forsaken our cities, that the hus- 
bandman has resigned the ploughshare for the sword, 
t our conficl nee is changed into fear, that the tumult 



of business has given place to the din of arms, that some 
of our citizens are perishing in foreign prisons, and others 
shedding their blood on a foreign soil, that hostile fleets 
scatter terror through our coasts, and flames through our 
cities, that no man feels secure, that the thought of inva- 
sion and slaughter mingles with the labours of the day, 
and disturbs the slumbers of the night, and that our na- 
tional government, empoverished, and inefficient, can 
afford us no protection from such imminent danger ? 
Yes — this is true — we need no reasoning to convince us 
of its truth. We see it in the anxious countenance, in 
the departing family, in the care which removes our 
possessions, in the obstructions and perplexities of bu- 
siness, and in the events which every day brings to our 
ears. At such a moment, it becomes each man to ask 
himself what are his duties, what the times demand 
from him, in what manner he may contribute to the 
public safety. It is a time for seriousness, for consider- 
ation. With prosperity, we should dismiss our levity. 
The period of duty may to many of us be short in- 
deed. Whilst it continues, let it be improved. 

I. The first remark I will make is, that it becomes eve- 
ry man at this solemn moment, to reflect on his own 
character and life, to enquire what he has done to bring 
down the judgements of God on his country, to confess 
and lament his sins, and to resolve on a thorough amend- 
ment and sincere obedience of God's commands. Wc 
ought to remember that God is a moral governor. He 
regards the character of communities as well as of indi- 



8 

viduals. A nation has reason for fear, in proportion to 
its guilt ; and a virtuous nation, sensible of its de- 
pendence on God, and disposed to respect his laws, is 
assured of his protection. Every people must indeed 
be influenced in a measure by the general state of the 
world, by the changes and conflicts of other commu- 
nities. When the ocean is in tumult, every shore will 
feel the agitation. But a people faithful to God will nev- 
er be forsaken. All history and experience teach 
us, that there is a direct and necessary tendency in 
national piety and virtue to national safety and exalta- 
tion. But this is not all. A virtuous people may 
expect peculiar interpositions of providence for their de- 
fence and prosperity. They may expect that God will 
•lirect events with a peculiar reference to their welfare. 
They are not indeed to anticipate miracles. They are 
not to imagine, that invading hosts will be annihilated 
like Sennacherib's by the arm of an angel. But God, we 
must remember, can effect his purposes, and preserve 
the just without a miracle. The hearts of men are in 
ills hand. The elements of nature obey his word. 
He has winds to scatter the proudest fleet, diseases to 
prostrate the strongest army. Consider how many 
v vents must conspire, how many secret springs must act 
in concert, to accomplish the purposes of the statesman, 
or the plans of the warrior. How often have the best 
concerted schemes been thwarted, the most menacing 
preparations been defeated, the proud boast of anticipat- 
ed victory been put to shame, by what we call casualty, 



by a slight and accidental want of concert, by the error 
of a chief, or by neglect in subordinate agents. Let 
God determine the defeat of an enemy and we need not 
fear that means will be wanting. He sends terror, or 
blindness, or mad presumption into the minds of leaders. 
Heaven, earth, and sea, are arrayed to oppose their pro- 
gress. An unconquerable spirit is breathed into the in- 
vaded ; and the dreaded foe seeks his safety in dishon- 
ourable flight. 

My friends, if God be for us, no matter who is a- 
gainst us. Mere power ought not to intimidate us ; 
he can crush it in a moment. We live in a period 
when God's supremacy has been remarkably evinced, 
when he has signally confounded the powerful and de- 
livered the oppressed and endangered. At his word, 
the forged chain has been broken ; mighty armies 
have been dispersed as chaff before the whirlwind ; co- 
lossal thrones have been shivered like the brittle clay. 
God is still " wonderful in counsel and excellent in 
working;" and if he wills to deliver us, we cannot be 
subdued. It is then most important that we seek God's 
favour. And how is his favour to be obtained ? I re- 
peat it — God is a holy being, the friend of the right- 
eous, the enemy of the wicked ; and in proportion as 
piety, uprightness, temperance and christian virtue pre- 
vail among us, in that proportion we are assured of his 
favour and protection. A virtuous people, fighting in 
defence of their altars and firesides, may lot k to God 
with confidence. An invisible, but alruighty arm 

B 



10 

surrounds them, an impenetrable shield is their shadow 
and defence. 

My friends, how far have we sustained the character 
of a pious and virtuous people ? It may be true, that, 
compared with other nations our morals are in a meas- 
ure pure. But other nations are not the standard by 
which we are to be judged. We are descended from 
ancestors of singular piety, who have transmitted to us 
principles of conduct, institutions and habits, peculiarly 
favourable to invidual and national virtue. God has 
placed us at a distance from the corruptions of older 
countries, and has warned us by their woes. He has al- 
so signally prospered and enriched us, and crowned us 
with blessings. Never did a nation enjoy more abun- 
dant means of instruction, or more powerful motives to 
gratitude and obedience ; and can we hope that we have 
exhibited that purity of manners, that regard to God's 
word, that justice, that charity which our privileges 
and blessings demand ? It is hoped that we have many 
righteous, many Christians. But have not our sins 
multiplied with our blessings ? Does not every heart 
feel, that we deserve the judgements we suffer ? Let us 
seek by repentance and amendment to avert the judge- 
ments we fear. To all of us, and especially to the prof- 
ligate, the licentious, unjust, and irreligious, this day of 
rebuke calls loudly for consideration, for penitent confes- 
sion, and for sincere purposes of future obedience to the 
divine commands. 



11 

II. Having recommended penitence in general as suited 
to the present moment, let me particularly recommend 
one branch of piety which the times demand of us. 
Let us each be instant and fervent in prayer. Let us 
pray to God, that he will not forsake us in this dark 
and menacing day ; that he will remember the mercy 
shown to our fathers ; that he will crown with success 
our efforts in defence of our possessions, our dwellings, 
and our temples ; that he will breathe an invincible cour- 
age into our soldiers ; that he will guard and guide our 
rulers ; that he will turn the invader from our shores ; 
or, if he shall otherwise appoint, that he will be our 
shield in battle, and will send us deliverance. For 
these blessings let us daily besiege the mercy seat of 
God, deeply convinced that he controls the destinies 
of armies and nations, that he gives or withholds suc- 
cess, and that without him all exertion is unavailing, 
and all hope will sink into despair. By this, it is not 
intended that we are to do nothing but pray ; that 
we are to leave our shores without defence, or neglect 
any means of security. God gives us powers that we 
should exert them, weapons that we should wield them. 
We are to employ every resource which he grants us ; 
but, having done this, we must remember that on God, 
not on ourselves, depends the result of our exertions. 
The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the 
strong. God gives victory, and to him let every eye 
and heart be directed. You who have no other weap- 
ons, contend with your prayers for your country. It 



12 

will not be imagined from these remarks, that by im- 
portunity of prayer God can be bent to favour an un- 
just cause. But when our cause is just ; when, instead 
of waging offensive war, we gather round our city and 
shores for defence, we may be assured that sincere 
prayer, united with sincere purposes of obedience, will 
not be lost. Prayer is a proper and appointed acknowl- 
edgement of our dependence, an essential means and 
branch of piety ; and they who neglect it have no rea- 
son to hope the protection, which they will not implore. 
Let us then take heed, lest the tumult of military prep- 
aration make us forgetful of the Author of all good, lest 
in collecting armies and raising walls of defence we 
forsake the footstool of the Almighty, the only giver of 
victory. 

III. This is a time when we should all bring clearly 
and strongly to our minds our duties to our country, 
and should cherish a strong and ardent attachment to 
the publick good. The claims of country have been felt 
and obeyed even in the rudest ages of society. The 
community to which we belong is commended by our 
very nature to our affection and sen ice. Christianity, in 
enjoining a disinterested and benevolent spirit, admits 
and sanctions this sentiment of nature, this attachment 
to the land of our fathers, the land of our nativity. It 
only demands, that our patriotism be purified from eve- 
ry mixture of injustice towards foreign nations. With- 
in this limit we cannot too ardently attach ourselves to 
the welfare of our country. Especially in its perils, 



13 



we should fly to its rescue with filial zeal and affec- 
tion, resolved to partake its sufferings, and prepared to 
die in its defence. The present moment, my friends, 
calls on us for this fervour of patriotism. The ques- 
tion now is — not whether we will carry invasion, 
slaughter, and desolation into an unoffending province 
— not whether we will give our strength and wealth 
to the prosecution of unprincipled plans of con- 
quest — but whether we will defend our firesides and al- 
tars — whether we will repel from our shores an hostile 
army. On this question our duty is clear. However 
unjustifiable may have been the measures by which we 
have been reduced to this mournful extremitv, our 
right to our soil and our possessions remains unimpair- 
ed ; the right of defence can never be wrested from us ; 
and never, whilst God gives means of resistance, ought 
we to resign our country to the clemency of a foe. Our 
duties as patriots and Christians are clear. Whilst we 
disclaim all share in the guilt of that war which is burst- 
ing on our shores, we should resolve, that we will be true 
to ourselves, to our fathers, and to posterity — that we 
will maintain the inheritance we have received — that 
whilst God gives us power we will not receive law as a 
conquered people. 

We should animate our patriotism at this moment of 
danger, by reflecting that we have a country to contend 
for which deserves every effort and sacrifice. As mem- 
bers of this Commonwealth in particular, we have every 
motive to invigorate our hearts and hands. We have 



14 

the deeds of our fathers, their piety and virtues, and their 
solicitude for the rights and happiness of their posterity, 
to awaken our emulation. How invaluable the inherit- 
ance they have left us, earned by their toils and defend- 
ed by their blood! Our populous cities and cultivated 
fields, our schools, colleges and churches, our equal laws, 
our uncorrupted tribunals of justice, our spirit of enter- 
prise, and our habits of order and peace, ail combine to 
form a commonwealth as rich in blessings and privileges 
as the history of the world records. We possess too the 
chief glory of a state, many virtuous and disinterested 
citizens, a chief magistrate who would adorn any coun- 
try and any age, enlightened statesmen, and, I trust, a 
fearless soldiery. Such a community deserves our 
affection, our honour, our zeal, the vigour of our arms, 
and the devotion of our lives. If we look back to 
Sparta, Athens, and Rome, we shall find that in the in- 
stitutions of this Commonwealth, we have sources of in- 
comparably richer blessings, than those republics conferr- 
ed on their citizens in their proudest days ; and yet 
Sparta, and Rome, and Athens inspired a love stronger 
than death. In the day of their danger, every citizen 
offered his breast as a bulwark — every citizen felt him- 
self the property of his country. This elevating senti- 
ment seemed to communicate to them a more than hu- 
man power, and the men who bled at Thermopylae 
hardly appear to possess the weaknesses of our nature. 
It is true, a base alloy mingled with the patriotism of 
ancient times, and God forbid that a sentiment so im. 



15 

pure should burn in our breasts. God forbid, that like 
the Greek and the Roman, we should earry fire and 
slaughter into other countries, to build up a false fleet- 
ing glory at home. But whilst we take warning by their 
excesses, let us catch a portion of their fervour, and learn 
to live not for ourselves, but for that country, whose 
honour and interests God has entrusted to our care. 

IV. The times especially demand of us that we cherish 
a spirit of fortitude, courage and resolution. The period 
of danger is the time to arm the mind with all the force 
and energy it can attain. In communities as in indi- 
viduals there is a proneness to excessive fear. Espe- 
cially when untried, unexperienced dangers approach, 
imagination is prone to enlarge them ; a panick spreads 
like lightning from breast to breast ; and before a blow is 
struck, a people are subdued by their fears. There is 
a rational fear, which we ought to cherish, a fear which 
views in all its dimensions approaching peril, and pre- 
pares with vigilance every means of defence. At the 
present moment we ought not to shut our eyes on our 
danger. Our enemy is formidable. A veteran army, 
trained to war, accustomed to success, fresh from con- 
quest, and led by experienced commanders, is not to 

i 

be despised, even if inferior in numbers, and even if it 
have received a temporary check. But such an army 
owes much of its formidableness to the fearless spirit 
which habit has fostered ; and the best weapon under 
Providence which we can oppose to it is the same cour- 
age, nurtured by reflection, by sentiments of honour, 



16 

and by the principles of religion. Courage indeed is not 
always invincible, and when God destines a nation to 
bondage the valour of the hero is unavailing. But it is 
generally true, that a brave people, contending in a just 
cause, possess in their courage the pledge of success. 
The instrument by which God rescues nations is their 
own undaunted resolution. Let us then cherish in our- 
selves and others, a firm and heroick spirit, a superiority 
to fear, a settled purpose to front every danger in the 
cause of our country. Let us fortify our minds, by re- 
flecting on the justice of our cause, that we are standing 
on our own shores, and defending invaded rights. Let 
us remember what we owe to ourselves and to the hon- 
our of this commonwealth. Let us show that our love 
of peace has not originated in timidity, and that the 
spirit of our fathers still lives in their sons. Let 
us call to the support of our resolution the prin- 
ciples of religion. Devoting ourselves to God, and 
engaging in this warfare from a sense of duty, let 
us feel that we are under his protection, that in the 
heat of battle he is near us, that life and death await his 
word, and that death in a service which he approves is 
never untimely and is never to be shunned. Let us 
consider that life at best is short, and its blessings tran- 
sitory, that its great end is to train us to virtue and to 
prepare us for heaven, and that we had far better resign 
it at once than protract it by baseness of spirit or un- 
manly fear. Death awaits us all, and hippy he who 
meets it in the discharge of duty. Most happy and 



If 

most honoured of men is the martyr to religion, who 
seals with his blood those truths, on which human vir- 
tue, consolation and hope, depend — and next to him, 
happy is the martyr to the cause of his country, who, in 
obedience to God, opposes his breast to the sword of 
her invaders, and repays with life the protection she 
has afforded. 

V. I have thus, my friends, set before you your duties 
to God and your country in this period of danger. Let 
me close with offering a few remarks on your duties 
to your enemies. You will remember that we profess 
a religion, which enjoins benevolence towards all man- 
kind, even towards our personal and national foes- 
Let not our patriotism be sullied with malignant pas- 
sions. Whilst we defend our shores with courage, let 
us not cherish hatred towards our invaders. We should 
not open our ear to every idle tale of their outrages, 
nor heap calumnies on their heads because they are ene- 
mies. The brave are generous. True courage needs 
not malignity to feed and inflame it. Especially when 
our foe is an illustrious nation, which for ages has de- 
fended and nurtured the interests of religion, science, 
and humanity ; a nation to which grateful Europe is 
now offering acknowledgements for the protection she 
has extended over the oppressed, and for the vigor 
with which she has cooperated in prostrating the bloody 
and appalling power of the usurper ; when such a na- 
tion is our foe, we should feel it unworthy and debasing 
to encourage a rancorous and vindictive spirit. True, she 
c 



|8 

is sending her armies to our shores ; but let us not forget, 
that our own government first sent slaughter and con- 
flagration into her unoffending provinces. True, she is 
not in haste to give us peace ; but let us remember, 
that our own government rejected her offer to sus- 
pend the havock of war, at the very moment when we 
knew that the principal ground of hostilities was remov- 
ed. Let not approaching danger disturb our recol- 
lections, or unsettle our principles. If we are to meet 
her armies in battle, which God in his mercy forbid, 
let us meet them with that magnanimity, which is can- 
did and just even to its foes. Let us fight, not like 
beasts of prey to glut revenge, but to maintain our 
rights, to obtain an honourable peace, and to obtain a 
victory which shall be signalized by our clemency as 
well as by our valour. God forbid, that our conflicts 
should add fury to those bad passions and national antip- 
athies, which have helped to bring this country to its 
present degraded and endangered condition. 

My friends, I have placed before you your duties. 
God give you grace to perform them. In this day of 
danger, we know not what is before us ; but this we 
know, that the path of piety, of virtue, of patriotism, 
and of manly courage, will lead us to glory and to im- 
mortality. No enemy can finally injure us, if we are 
faithful to God, to our country, to mankind. In such 
a cause as ours, I trust, prosperity and victory will be 
granted us by the almighty Disposer. But whether 
success or disaster await us, we know that the world is 



19 

passing away, and that all of us will soon be placed 
beyond the reach of its changes. Let us not then be 
elated or depressed ; but with a firm and equal mind, 
let us acquit ourselves as men and Christians in our 
several spheres, looking upward to heaven as our rest 
and reward. 






. 



